I am making a wedding cake for a friend and she is having a traditional Scottish wedding. I told her I would make the cake before I knew I was going to have to make thistles. As a last resort I will just use live ones. But if anyone has any words of wisdom for me it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry, no advice to share. I can't think of anything that wouldn't end up so bulky and heavy, but here's a bump for ya!

ive seen some in the flesh - they looked like gumpaste for the green part, snipped into with scissors, kinda like how you can do trees? and fine purple stamens.
so, maybe done with the double ended stamens. and if you take a length of wire, folded in half over the center of the stamens (like how you can do some rose centers). then paint the bottom of them with egg white/ edible glue and push the green gumpaste shape up.
thats how i guess its done - ive yet to try this myself, although i probably will sometime soon.
xx

oh its not stamens, its thread, lace thread is preferable, but a thin regular thread will do.
xx

Thank you very much. I will have to give that a try. I still have a couple weeks to play around and see what works. I appreciate the advice!

I love, love this book and have taught myself many of this author's flowers.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1853919349/?tag=cakecentral-20

She has a thistle in it and it looks not to be too daunting; although I have not attempted it yet. It is a matter of using small, sharp scissors to cut the points on the base of the flower. Her directions are wonderful.